The role of trait emotional intelligence in academic performance: theoretical overview and empirical update

Considerable debate still exists among scholars over the role of trait emotional intelligence (TEI) in academic performance. The dominant theoretical position is that TEI should be orthogonal or only weakly related to achievement; yet, there are strong theoretical reasons to believe that TEI plays a key role in performance. The purpose of the current article is to provide (a) an overview of the possible theoretical mechanisms linking TEI with achievement and (b) an update on empirical research examining this relationship. To elucidate these theoretical mechanisms, the overview draws on multiple theories of emotion and regulation, including TEI theory, social-functional accounts of emotion, and expectancy-value and psychobiological model of emotion and regulation. Although these theoretical accounts variously emphasize different variables as focal constructs, when taken together, they provide a comprehensive picture of the possible mechanisms linking TEI with achievement. In this regard, the article redresses the problem of vaguely specified theoretical links currently hampering progress in the field. The article closes with a consideration of directions for future research

Construct validity of scores from the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale in a sample of postsecondary students with disabilities

Although theory posits a multidimensional structure of resilience, studies have supported a unidimensional solution for data obtained from the commonly used Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). This study investigated the latent structure of CD-RISC responses in a sample of postsecondary students with disabilities. Furthermore, the validity of CD-RISC scores was examined with respect to career optimism and well-being. The analyses were conducted using confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). Results supported a bifactor-ESEM representation of the CD-RISC data that accounts for construct-relevant multidimensionality in scores due to the presence of general and specific factors and the fallibility of indicators as pure reflections of the constructs they measure. Although three specific factors showed meaningful residual specificity over and above the general factor, two specific factors were weakly defined with little meaningful residual specificity. However, these factors may retain some utility in the bifactor-ESEM model insofar as they control for limited levels of residual covariance in items. Evidence was also obtained for relations of the general and substantively interpretable specific factors with career optimism and well-being. The results of the study provide validation data for the CD-RISC and clarify recent research converging on seemingly disparate unidimensional and multidimensional solutions

Resilience: distinct construct or conglomerate of existing traits?

Since its inception in mainstream scientific psychology, resilience has emerged as a popular, yet controversial, construct. As evidenced in the target article, this controversy can be attributed, at least in part, to current conceptual and methodological difficulties hampering understanding of the construct. Chief among these concerns is the discriminant validity of resilience with respect to conceptually similar individual differences constructs, such as hardiness, mental toughness, adaptability, and even the five-factor personality dimensions. Advances in research on resilience, and ultimately the utility of the construct in applied settings, hinge on its distinction from related concepts. In this commentary, we extend Britt, Shen, Sinclair, Grossman, and Klieger’s (2016) brief discussion of dimensional redundancy, maintaining that the demonstration of discriminant validity is a necessary first step toward the conceptual clarification of resilience.We first provide an overview of the “jangle” fallacy, which serves as a basis for discussing the importance of construct discrimination to construct validity. We thereafter briefly review existing literature on the distinction, or lack thereof, between resilience and conceptually analogous constructs. Our commentary closes with a reevaluation of the potential contribution of resilience to organizational science

Contextual batting and bowling in limited overs cricket

Cricket is a sport for which many batting and bowling statistics have been proposed. However, a feature of cricket is that the level of aggressiveness adopted by batsmen is dependent on match circumstances. It is therefore relevant to consider these circumstances when evaluating batting and bowling performances. This paper considers batting performance in the second innings of limited overs cricket when a target has been set. The runs required, the number of overs completed and the wickets taken are relevant in assessing the batting performance. We produce a visualization for second innings batting which describes how a batsman performs under different circumstances. The visualization is then reduced to a single statistic “clutch batting” which can be used to compare batsmen. An analogous approach is then provided for bowlers based on the symmetry between batting and bowling, and we define the statistic “clutch bowling”

Burnt-Bricks Production Using Extracted Finer Particles from Soil with Fly Ash Addition

Earthen building materials, including mud, adobe, rammed earth, and bricks, have a long history of use in civil engineering construction all throughout the world. Burnt bricks are one of these materials that is important. However, the availability of raw materials for making bricks is limited. As a result, numerous alternatives have been investigated as raw materials for making bricks. These substitutes include fly ash, rice husk and ash, industrial, and agricultural waste. The current study suggests a novel method for producing burnt bricks using extracted finer and fly ash. Finer particle extraction was done through soil washing. Since the extracted finer is having high plasticity index and high linear shrinkage, extracted finer was mixed with 20%, 25%, 30%, 40% and 50% fly ash. Fly ash is an industrial waste; hence the use of fly ash for this kind of production would give a sustainable solution for waste management. Every finer-fly ash combination underwent an Atterburg test to evaluate its qualities, particularly its plasticity index and linear shrinkage. Standard-type mold (220 x 115 x 75 mm) was used to produce the handmade bricks. Compressive strength, flexural strength, water absorption, density, and dimension variations of burned bricks were all examined. Results were compared with SLS 39: Specification for burnt clay bricks. Further, these properties were compared with the same properties of bricks made with soil taken from the brick-making industry mixed with fly ash and industrial available burnt-bricks. Additionally, wire-cut bricks were produced using extracted finer and 25% fly ash. The dimensional variation of finer-fly ash mixed burnt bricks is decreasing when the fly ash % is increased relative to the mold size. Compressive strength of the Grade 2 category was demonstrated using bricks manufactured with a 25% fly addition, according to SLS 39. According to the aforementioned findings, burnt bricks composed of extracted finer and fly ash have higher desirable qualities when 25% more fly ash is added. Additionally, it shows that using fly ash results in lightweight bricks. The wire-cut bricks made with this selected mixture give 10.64 N/mm2 of compressive strength and it satisfies the SLS 39 requirements for wire-cut bricks. Also, its water absorption was nearly 16% which is below the SLS required value (18%)

Tactics for Twenty20 cricket

This paper explores two avenues for the modification of tactics in Twenty20 cricket. The first idea is based on the realisation that wickets are of less importance in Twenty20 cricket than in other formats of cricket (e.g. one-day cricket and Test cricket). A consequence is that batting sides in Twenty20 cricket should place more emphasis on scoring runs and less emphasis on avoiding wickets falling. On the flip side, fielding sides should place more emphasis on preventing runs and less emphasis on taking wickets. Practical implementations of this general idea are obtained by simple modifications to batting orders and bowling overs. The second idea may be applicable when there exists a sizeable mismatch between two competing teams. In this case, the weaker team may be able to improve its win probability by increasing the variance of run differential. A specific variance inflation technique which we consider is increased aggressiveness in batting

Vocational interest profiles: profile replicability and relations with the STEM major choice and the Big-Five

Normative circular and dimensional models are the dominant structures for the organization of vocational interests in the scientific literature. However, it is increasingly recognized that not all individuals' interest configurations can be adequately represented by normative models. Adopting a person-centered, multidimensional perspective on vocational interests, the current study seeks to identify distinct profiles of interests based on RIASEC data that integrate interest configurations that align with and deviate from normal circular and dimensional structures. We also test the replicability of the profile structure, examine the likelihood of STEM degree choice as a function of profile membership, and investigate core personality predictors of interest profile membership. Latent profile analyses revealed six profiles of vocational interests, representing distinct combinations of the RIASEC interests (i.e., social-dominant, disinterested, high realistic-dominant, investigative-dominant, ambivalent, and conventional-dominant), which replicated entirely across independent subsamples. Furthermore, the profiles differed on the likelihood of STEM degree choice, with the conventional-dominant profile evincing the highest probability of choice and the social-dominant profile evincing the lowest probability of choice. Finally, results revealed that the Big-Five personality traits were differentially related to interest profile membership, largely in line with vocational interest theory. The present findings constitute novel evidence that a person-centered framework for the representation of interest configurations can accommodate both people's adherence to and deviations from normative structures for the organization of interests. The findings also underpin the use of all available interest information on individuals, rather than reliance on the two or three highest interest dimensions, to inform educational and vocational decision-making

Evaluating measures of optimism and sport confidence

The psychometric properties of the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), the Sport Confidence Inventory (SCI), and the Carolina SCI (CSCI) were examined in a study involving 260 athletes. The study aimed to test the dimensional structure, convergent and divergent validity, and invariance over competition level of scores generated by these instruments. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) supported the measurement models for the SCI and CSCI but favoured a two-dimensional model for the LOT-R. ESEM analyses of the total pool of 33 items indicated satisfactory divergent validity among these optimism and sport confidence measures with the only overlap occurring between the LOT-R and CSCI measures of optimism. The SCI discriminated among athletes participating at different competitive levels and emerged as the most suitable instrument for measuring individual differences in sport confidence. The CSCI emerged as a better measure of optimism in a sporting context than the more general LOT-R

A Pattern Language for Blockchain Governance

Blockchain technology has been used to build next-generation applications taking advantage of its decentralised nature. Nevertheless, there are some serious concerns about the trustworthiness of blockchain due to the vulnerabilities in on-chain algorithmic mechanisms, and tedious disputes and debates in off-chain communities. Accordingly, blockchain governance has received great attention for improving the trustworthiness of all decisions that direct a blockchain platform. However, there is a lack of systematic knowledge to guide practitioners to perform blockchain governance. We have performed a systematic literature review to understand the state-of-the-art of blockchain governance. We identify the lifecycle stages of a blockchain platform, and present 14 architectural patterns for blockchain governance in this study. This pattern language can provide guidance for the effective use of patterns for blockchain governance in practice, and support the architecture design of governance-driven blockchain systems